Lack of digital skills in government, low pay, and legacy IT systems prevent progress on tackling multi billion pound public sector fraud and error
One of the major issues is the lack of oversight about the level of fraud, with estimates ranging from £55bn to £81bn a year based on figures from the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA).
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were told by the government it ‘could save up to £6bn a year’ with ‘improved data analytics’.
‘We do not have confidence all public bodies share the ambition or are set up to achieve such savings,’ PAC said in its latest report on fraud levels.
The report detailed ‘several barriers’ preventing the wider use of data analytics to fight fraud and error’. This included the continued use of legacy IT and database systems, poor quality data overall, difficulties in sharing data between departments, and a lack of digital skills in government.
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